Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'given warning by FIFA over player loans'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 30 November 2018

Chelsea 'warned by FIFA over player loans'

Chelsea must cut the number of players sent out on loan from 39 this season down to just eight in time for the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

FIFA has reportedly warned Chelsea and other Premier League clubs that they have just one more season to complete an overhaul of their squads to comply with new loan laws.

The regulations, due to be rolled out from the start of the 2020-21 campaign, restricts the number of players teams send out on loan per season.

Chelsea currently have 39 players out on loan, including the likes of Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma, Kenedy and Michy Batshuayi, but from 2020 that will have to drop to a maximum of eight.

According to The Times, FIFA has contacted the Blues to remind them of the rule change, which it is claimed will have huge implications for the club's business model.

Teams will also be capped on the number of players sent on loan to a single club, which would again adversely affect the Londoners as three of their youngsters are currently with Vitesse in the Eredivisie.

In all, Chelsea have 39 players out on loan from their first team, Under-23s and academy, while Manchester City (28), Wolverhampton Wanderers (27), Brighton & Hove Albion (16), Watford (14) and Everton (14) are next on the list.